Electronic monitoring apparatus and monitoring method for textile materials

ABSTRACT

An electronic monitoring system employing electrical circuitry for controlling the movement of textile materials, which circuitry embodies a temperature sensing device past which moves the textile material. The movement of the textile material past the temperature sensing device brings about changes in temperature of the temperature sensing device owing to the thus generated movement of the atmosphere surrounding the temperature sensing device and/or owing to contact of the textile material with the temperature sensing device. The changes in temperature of the temperature sensing device cause a change of the output signal of the circuitry which can be used to evaluate the presence or movement of the textile material. The method of the invention for monitoring the movement of textile material comprises moving a yarn past a temperature sensing device, bringing about changes in temperature of the temperature sensing device owing to such movement of the yarn, which changes in temperature cause a variation in the output signal of the electrical circuitry associated with the temperature sensing device which can then be used for evaluating the presence or movement of the textile material.

United States Patent 11 1 1111 3,756,524 Felix Sept. 4, 1973 ELECTRONICMONITORING APPARATUS Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath AND MONITORINGMETHOD FOR TEXTILE MATERIALS [75] Ernst Felix, Uster, Switzerlandlnventor:

Assignee: Zellweger A.G., Uster, Switzerland Filed: Dec. 14, 1970 Appl.N0.: 97,661

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 4/1951 Koontz 323/68 2/1960 Rogofi' 323/68 11/1966 Davey340/239 R 2/1968 Klyce 340/239 S 11/1968 Guido et al..... ZOO/61.18 X

3/1970 Perconti ZOO/61.18 X 6/1971 Beazley 200/61 1 8 X AssistantExaminer-Milton Gerstein AttorneyWerner W. Kleeman [57] ABSTRACT Anelectronic monitoring system employing electrical circuitry forcontrolling the movement of textile materials, which circuitry embodiesa temperature sensing device past which moves the textile material. Themovement of the textile material past the temperature sensing devicebrings about changes in temperature of the temperature sensing deviceowing to the thus generated movement of the atmosphere surrounding thetemperature sensing device and/or owing to contact of the textilematerial with the temperature sensing device. The changes in temperatureof the temperature sensing device cause a change of the output signal ofthe circuitry which can be used to evaluate the presence or movement ofthe textile material. The method of the invention for monitoring themovement of textile material comprises moving a yarn past a temperaturesensing device, bringing about changes in temperature of the temperaturesensing device owing to such move ment of the yarn, which changes intemperature cause a variation in the output signal of the electricalcircuitry associated with the temperature sensing device which can thenbe used for evaluating the presence or movement of the textile material.

18 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures ELECTRONIC MONITORING APPARATUS ANDMONITORING METHOD FOR TEXTILE MATERIALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thepresent invention broadly relates to textile monitoring equipment, andmore specifically, is directed to a new and improved electronicmonitoring device equipped with a circuit arrangement for controllingthe movement of textile materials, especially yarns or threads formed ofnatural fibers or synthetic fibers, and additionally, the presentinvention also relates to a new and improved monitoring technique ormethod for textile materials. In the context of this disclosure theexpression textile materials with which the monitoring device andtechniques of the present invention are employed, is intended toencompass, by way of illustration and not limitation, yarns, ply yarnsor threads, roving, slivers, and other similar types of filamentarymaterials, formed of natural fibers or synthetic materials.

Now the textile monitoring art is acquainted with electronic monitoringdevices where the textile thread oryarn is supervised with the aid of acapacitive measuring element. Owing to the specific alternating currentsignal which is generated in a capacitor due to fluctuations in thecross-section of a moving textile yarn, it is possible to determinewhether the yarn is moving or, in fact, is even present.

Apart from the capacitive type of yarn monitoring devices there havealso become known to the art optical solutions for monitoring equipment.In these types of state-of-the-art equipment the yarn or thread isguided through an electro-optical measuring element which consists of alight source and a light sensitive cell. The yarn or thread passesbetween the light source and the light sensitive cell and by virtue ofthe spontaneously occurring fluctuations in the diameter of the yarnthere is likewise generated during the movement of such yarn analternating current signal characteristic for the movement of the yarnor thread.

A further type of monitoring equipment for textile materials has becomeknown to the art which makes use of a mechanical yarn feeler; a rodmember which can be placed into mechanical oscillation serves as thefeeler element. The dampening of the mechanical oscillations which arebrought about by the yarn is characteristic of the presence of the yarn.

Although many different proposals for monitoring textile materials havebeen advanced in the art, still the various solutions known up to thepresent are not devoid of certain drawbacks. Hence, for instance, theprior art type of monitoring equipment is generally quite complicated inconstruction and not always reliable insofar as its monitoring functionis concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, a real need still exists in the artfor monitoring equipment and techniques which are not associated withthe prevailing drawbacks of the state-of-theart equipment and monitoringtechniques. Hence, a primary object of the present invention relates tothe provision of an improved method of, and apparatus for, monitoringtextile materials which is not associated with the aforementioneddrawbacks of the prior art structures and techniques and whicheffectively and reliably fulfills the existing need.

Still another more specific object of the present invention relates toan improved electronic monitoring device for textile materials which isrelatively simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, providesextreme reliability in performing its monitoring function, needs aminimum of maintenance and servicing, and is not readily subject tobreakdown.

Yet a further significant object of the present invention relates to animproved monitoring technique for controlling textile materials whereinthe movement of the textile material triggers changes in the temperatureof a temperature sensing device which, in turn, brings about a change inan output signal indicative of the presence or movement of the textilematerial.

Now, in order to implement these and still further objects of thepresent invention, which will become more readily apparent as thedescription proceeds, the electronic monitoring device of the presentinvention is generally manifested by the features that the circuitarrangement for the monitoring device embodies a temperature sensingdevice or feeler which possesses a different temperature than theambient or surrounding temperature when the textile material is notpresent or not moving. The textile material is moved past thetemperature sensing device and the movement of the textile material atthe temperature sensing device brings about changes in temperature ofthe temperature sensing device of the circuit arrangement owing to themovement of the atmosphere surrounding the temperature sensing deviceand/or the contact of the textile material with the temperature feeler.The aforementioned change in temperature of the temperature feeler atthe circuit arrangement brings about a change of its output signal. Itis particularly advantageous to use such electronic monitoring equipmentas a yarn control device and/or a switching device for a textilemachine, such as for instance a spinning machine or winding machine.

As the temperature sensing device or temperature feeler there can beadvantageously employed a compo nent, an electrical parameter of whichsuch as the electrical resistance of which varies with temperature.However, there are also available temperature sensing devices whichgenerate a voltage which is dependent upon temperature, such as forinstance thermoelements. A temperature sensing device or feelerpossessing a temperature-dependent electrical resistance, such as forinstance a negative temperature coefficient resistor, hereinafterconveniently referred to as a NTC- resistor, can be arranged forinstance as a variable resistor in a voltage divider or in a measuringbridge.

Apart from the use of a NTC-resistor, generally referred to in the artas a thermistor, there can also be used a resistor having a positivetemperature coefficient, conveniently referred to hereinafter as a PTC-resistor, and typically referred to in the art as a sensitor.

It is advantageous if there is used a bridge circuit and in each arm orbranch of the bridge there is arranged a respective similar temperaturefeeler or sensing device, whereby then only the temperature of one ofboth of these temperature sensing devices is changed by the movement ofthe yarn or the like. Within a certain range such a bridge circuitremains extensively independent of the ambient or surroundingtemperature.

In addition to the aforementioned apparatus aspects of the inventionthere is also contemplated a new and improved technique or method formonitoring a textile material which, broadly speaking, contemplates mov-3 ing the textile material past a temperature sensing device arranged inthe circuit of the monitoring equipment, and causing a change intemperature of the temperature sensing device by means of the passingtextile material. This change in temperature brings about a change inthe output signal of the circuit arrangement of the monitoring equipmentwhich is indicative of the presence or movement of such textilematerial.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understoodand objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent whenconsideration is given to the following detailed description thereof.Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of monitoringequipment employing a voltage dividercircuit arrangement utilizing atemperature feeler:

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the construction of the monitoringdevice of the invention with a circuit arrangement of the type shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a modified form of monitoring equipmentemploying a bridge circuit with resistors and temperature feelers orsensing devices;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates the embodiment of textile monitoringdevice and circuitry according to the arrangement of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 schematically depicts the arrangement of monitoring equipment ofthe type shown in FIG. 4 at a winding machine by way of example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now thedrawing, in FIG. 1 there is schematically illustrated the circuitarrangement of a textile monitoring device designed according to theteachings of the present invention and wherein such circuit arrangementcomprises a. voltage divider circuit 1 embodying the resistors 11 and12. The NTC-resistor 12 constitutes the temperature feeler ortemperature sensing device. By appropriately selecting the resistancevalue it is possible to achieve the result that the NTC- resistor 12possesses an operating temperature which is considerably above thesurrounding or ambient temperature. As soon as the textile strand 13moves, preferably in its lengthwise direction, the atmospheresurrounding the temperature feeler or sensing device 12 is agitated orplaced into motion, bringing about cooling of the NTC-resistor 12.Cooling of the NTC-resistor 12 causes a change in its resistance which,in turn, brings about a change in the voltage U, appearing acrossresistor 12. As long as the strand 13 is in motion the output signal Uassumes a predetermined value. Furthermore, when the strand or thread 13is stationary or even no longer present, then the temperature of theNTC- resistor 12 again increases because the cooling effect previouslyexistent by virtue of the atmosphere which was in motion is no longerpresent. Once again, the output signal U, changes. It will be readilyapparent that the variations of this output signal U, are indicative ofthe presence or movement of the yarn.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates one form of electronic monitoringequipment embodying a housing 15 within which there is arranged thecircuitry shown in FIG. 1 for instance. The temperature feeler ortemperature sensing device 12, which, as previously recalled, wasassumed by way of example to comprise a NTC- resistor, is arranged insuch a way that the textile strand 13 which moves through the guideelement 14 travels in close proximity to the temperature feeler 12.

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of monitoring circuitry embodying abridge circuit 2 containing in each branch 12/21 and 24/22 of the bridgea respective temperature sensing device or feeler 12 and 24respectively. This type of circuit arrangement renders the bridgeextensively independent of fluctuations of the surrounding temperature.The current flowing in both branches of the bridge 2 is again selectedin such a way that the temperature of the temperature sensing devices 12and 24 is appreciably different from the surrounding temperature. Whenthe textile strand 13 is stationary there is present a predeterminedbridge voltage U It is not necessary in any way that the bridge voltageU be balanced to null. Now, if the textile strand 13 moves, then, theNTC-resistor 12 cools down in the same manner as already described inconnection with the circuitry of FIG. 1. As a result, the bridge voltageU the output signal, changes.

FIG. 4, which is somewhat analogous to the showing of FIG. 2, likewisedepicts the electronic monitoring device utilizing circuitry of the typedepicted in FIG. 3 embodying the temperature sensing devices 12, 24arranged within the monitor housing 27. The textile strand 13 is guidedby the guide arrangement 14 in close proximity past the NTC-resistor 12.The NTC- resistor 24 is subjected to the same surrounding conditions asthe resistor 12.

Turning now to FIG. 5 there is schematically illustrated therein awinding machine or winder, generally designated by reference character3, by means of which a textile strand or yarn 13 is wound from a cop 31via the yarn brake 32 and the yarn drive-and guide roll 33 upon thecross-wound bobbin 34. The guide roller or drum 33 is driven by asuitable drive motor M which constitutes an element operated by orresponsive to the output signal considered above. A monitoring device42, for instance of the type heretofore discussed, and specifically, byway of example, illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, is arranged between theyarn brake 32 and the drive roll or drum 34. The output signal of thismonitoring device 42, which can be amplified, is delivered to a relay36, the switching contact 37 of which upon the presence of such outputsignal, which corresponds to a moving yarn 13, is closed. As soon as theyarn or strand 13 no longer is in motion or no longer is present, therelay 36 changes its switching state, the contact 37 opens, and thedrive motor M is disconnected from the voltage source U.

While for convenience in discussing preferred illustrative examples ofthe invention it was remarked that the temperature feelers or sensingdevices were NTC- resistors, it is again reiterated that the resistors12 and 24 considered in conjunction with the circuitry of FIGS. 1 and 3also could be FTC-resistors or other components, the resistance value ofwhich changes as a function of temperature. They also can be constitutedby components such as thermoelements which generate a voltage as afunction of temperature. According to a modified version of electronictextile monitoring equipment according to this invention, thetemperature of the temperature feeler 12 can also be maintained lowerthan the surrounding temperature. What is only of importance is that thetemperature of the feeler or sensing element differs from thesurrounding temperature. Moreover, with the discussion of theembodiments of the invention heretofore presented, it was indicated thatthe strand 13 did not directly contact the temperature sensing elementor feeler 12, rather merely passed in close proximity thereto, yet itwould be equally possible for there to occur direct contact between thetemperature feeler 12 and the textile strand 13 which brings about anadditional cooling or heating of the temperature feeler. Hence, the termclose proximityy as used hereinafter, or equivalent or similarexpressions, are intended to embrace both possibilities and, therefore,should be construed in the broader sense.

- If the monitoring equipment is used as a supervisingand/or switchingelement in a textile machine, then it is necessary that, for instance,upon start-up of the machine the effect of the output signal of themonitoring device be suppressed until the starting operation has beencompleted.

By way of completeness, it is here also mentioned that the movement ofthe strand need not necessarily be in its lengthwise direction. Forinstance, in the case of a ring winding machine the transverse movementof the yarn at the balloon can be used to generate the cooling aircurrent. In the case of a spinning machine for synthetic yarns it ispossible, for instance, that the temperature sensing device or feelerpossesses a temperature approximating that of the room or surroundingconditions. In such case heating up of the temperature feeler isundertaken by the hot strand or yarn.

Electronic monitoring devices designed according to the concepts of thepresent invention are suitable for use in conjunction with manydifferent types of textile machines, such as for instance doubling andtwisting machines, looms, flyers, drawing frames, carding machines,warping machines, circular knitting machines, flat knitting machines,and raschel knitting machines, and so forth.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of theinvention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practicedwithin the scope of the following claims.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. An electronic monitoring device for controlling the presence ormovement of textile materials, especially yarns, ply yarns or threads,roving, slivers, formed of natural fibers or synthetic materials,comprising a circuit arrangement for generating an output signal andincorporating a temperature sensing device past which moves in closeproximity thereto the textile material, movement of the textile materialpast the temperature sensing device placing the air surrounding thetemperature sensing device into motion and thus bringing about a changein the temperature of such temperature sensing device, said circuitarrangement including means in circuit with said temperature sensingdevice, said temperature sensing device and said means in circuittherewith producing a change in the output signal of said circuitarrangement in response to the change in temperature of said temperaturesensing device, said output signal being employed to act upon an elementresponsive to the output signal.

2. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtextile material and temperature sensing device are arrangedsufficiently close to one another that said textile material physicallycontacts said temperature sensing device.

3. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtemperature sensing device comprises an electrical resistor elementwhose resistance value changes as a function of its temperature.

4. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidmeans of said circuit arrangement comprises a voltage divider, saidtemperature sensing device being an element of said voltage divider andcomprising a variable resistor, the resistance value of which isdependent upon temperature, and wherein the voltage across saidtemperature sensing device constitutes said output signal.

5. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidmeans of said circuit arrangement defines a bridge circuit, saidtemperature sensing device being arranged in one branch of said bridgecircuit, and the output voltage of said bridge defining said outputsignal of the circuit arrangement.

6. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 5, wherein saidbridge circuit includes a further branch which does not contain saidtemperature sensing device, said further branch being equipped with anelectrical component possessing the same temperaturedependency of itsresistance value as said temperature sensing device.

7. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 6, wherein saidelectrical component likewise comprises a temperature sensing device.

8. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidtemperature sensing device comprises a NTC-resistor.

9. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidtemperature sensing device comprises a FTC-resistor.

10. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtemperature sensing device generates a voltage as a function of itstemperature.

11. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelement responsive to the output signal is a motor.

12. A method for monitoring the presence or movement of textilematerials, comprising the steps of: moving textile material in closeproximity to and past a temperature sensing device arranged in anelectrical circuit, agitating the air surrounding the temperaturesensing device by means of the moving textile material in order to placethe air surrounding the temperature sensing device into a state ofmotion to thus bring about a change in the temperature of thetemperature sensing device due to the presence or movement of thetextile material, the change in the temperature of the temperaturesensing device altering an electrical parameter thereof, and utilizingsuch change in temperature of the temperature sensing device to bringabout a variation in the output signal of the electrical circuit, whichoutput signal is then indicative of the presence or movement of thetextile material.

13. The method as defined in claim 12, including the step of utilizingthe output signal for supervising the textile material at a textilemachine.

14. The method as defined in claim 12, including the step of utilizingthe output signal for controlling the operation of a textile machine.

material in its lengthwise direction past the tempera ture sensingdevice.

18. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein. the step of moving thetextile material past the temperature sensing device includes the stepof moving the textile material in a transverse direction with regard toits lengthwise axis.

1. An electronic monitoring device for controlling the presence ormovement of textile materials, especially yarns, ply yarns or threads,roving, slivers, formed of natural fibers or synthetic materials,comprising a circuit arrangement for generating an output signal andincorporating a temperature sensing device past which moves in closeproximity thereto the textile material, movement of the textile materialpast the temperature sensing device placing the air surrounding thetemperature sensing device into motion and thus bringing about a changein the temperature of such temperature sensing device, said circuitarrangement including means in circuit with said temperature sensingdevice, said temperature sensing device and said means in circuittherewith producing a change in the output signal of said circuitarrangement in response to the change in temperature of said temperaturesensing device, said output signal being employed to act upon an elementresponsive to the output signal.
 2. The electronic monitoring device asdefined in claim 1, wherein said textile material and temperaturesensing device are arranged sufficiently close to one another that saidtextile material physically contacts said temperature sensing device. 3.The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidtemperature sensing device comprises an electrical resistor elementwhose resistance value changes as a function of its temperature.
 4. Theelectronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein said meansof said circuit arrangement comprises a voltage divider, saidtemperature sensing device being an element of said voltage divider andcomprising a variable resistor, the resistance value of which isdependent upon temperature, and wherein the voltage across saidtemperature sensing device constitutes said output signal.
 5. Theelectronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein said meansof said circuit arrangement defines a bridge circuit, said temperaturesensing device being arranged in one branch of said bridge circuit, andthe output voltagE of said bridge defining said output signal of thecircuit arrangement.
 6. The electronic monitoring device as defined inclaim 5, wherein said bridge circuit includes a further branch whichdoes not contain said temperature sensing device, said further branchbeing equipped with an electrical component possessing the sametemperature-dependency of its resistance value as said temperaturesensing device.
 7. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim6, wherein said electrical component likewise comprises a temperaturesensing device.
 8. The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim3, wherein said temperature sensing device comprises a NTC-resistor. 9.The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 3, wherein saidtemperature sensing device comprises a PTC-resistor.
 10. The electronicmonitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein said temperaturesensing device generates a voltage as a function of its temperature. 11.The electronic monitoring device as defined in claim 1, wherein saidelement responsive to the output signal is a motor.
 12. A method formonitoring the presence or movement of textile materials, comprising thesteps of: moving textile material in close proximity to and past atemperature sensing device arranged in an electrical circuit, agitatingthe air surrounding the temperature sensing device by means of themoving textile material in order to place the air surrounding thetemperature sensing device into a state of motion to thus bring about achange in the temperature of the temperature sensing device due to thepresence or movement of the textile material, the change in thetemperature of the temperature sensing device altering an electricalparameter thereof, and utilizing such change in temperature of thetemperature sensing device to bring about a variation in the outputsignal of the electrical circuit, which output signal is then indicativeof the presence or movement of the textile material.
 13. The method asdefined in claim 12, including the step of utilizing the output signalfor supervising the textile material at a textile machine.
 14. Themethod as defined in claim 12, including the step of utilizing theoutput signal for controlling the operation of a textile machine. 15.The method as defined in claim 12, including the step of utilizing theoutput signal for supervising the textile material of a spinningmachine.
 16. The method as defined in claim 12, including the step ofutilizing the output signal for supervising the textile material of awinding machine.
 17. The method as defined in claim 12, wherein the stepof moving the textile material past the temperature sensing deviceincludes the step of moving the textile material in its lengthwisedirection past the temperature sensing device.
 18. The method as definedin claim 12, wherein the step of moving the textile material past thetemperature sensing device includes the step of moving the textilematerial in a transverse direction with regard to its lengthwise axis.